Curtis Thompson had already wrapped up the state javelin championship as he stepped forward for his final attempt.

This try was for history, and history alone, in the form of a state record.

As the Florence senior prepared to throw, the crowd around him began to clap. The sound started slow, building up to a crescendo as Thompson sprinted toward the line and let the javelin fly, howling as he released it.

The javelin quickly soared into orbit and kept going and going and going, gasps coming out of the crowd, until it finally landed.

As the event officials began to congregate, double- and triple-checking their measurements, it became evident that history had indeed been achieved.

Thompson shattered the meet record and then grabbed the state mark for good measure, throwing the nation’s longest throw this season with a 224-10 at the NJSIAA/Star-Ledger/M-F Athletics Meet of Champions on Wednesday at Frank Jost Field in South Plainfield.

It feels great,” Thompson said moments before head NJSIAA field official Jim Mowen confirmed the record with a steel tape measurement. “All the hard work I’ve been doing paid off. I was able to unleash what I needed to (after clinching the title). When everyone started clapping for me, it was pretty awesome.”

The Mississippi State-bound standout had already sealed the state title with a throw of 216 flat on a previous attempt in the final, allowing him to attack the record without pressure and pass the previous record of 224-1 set by two-time MOC champ Kaleb Zuidema in 2010.

"It felt like everyone was rooting for me," Thompson said. "I was able to let it go. When I did, I felt more powerful than I was on my other throws. Once I let it fly, I looked up and it went pretty far. Everything came together with that throw."